The three passed one another.

As Xu Wuyi continued down the stairs, he could hear Wang Wenhai’s hushed voice from behind: "This kid... he’s growing too fast."

Warehouse number three on the first floor was piled high with all sorts of equipment.

After presenting his identification, Xu Wuyi received a standard Martial Artist combat pack: a high-strength protective inner lining, a multi-function tactical belt, an emergency medical kit, and three signal flares.

He put on the protective lining under his training uniform, fastened the tactical belt, re-shouldered his wrapped long-spear, and then strode toward the backyard.

Seven off-road vehicles were already parked in the backyard, their engines rumbling.

About fifty to sixty people were gathered there, divided into several squads.

Xu Wuyi glanced at the photos of his squad members on a tablet and quickly found his squad.

Eight people—six men and two women—all wearing similar combat attire. They all looked to be over thirty years old.

Five of them had calm expressions, while the other three were somewhat nervous, constantly checking their equipment.

"Xu Wuyi." He walked over and stated his name.

All eight of them looked at him at once, their expressions a mixture of surprise, doubt, and composure.

A bald, middle-aged man with a scar on his face stepped forward and extended his hand. "Zhao Tie, Advanced Martial Artist. Four rift combat operations under my belt. Minister Chen just informed us via comms that our leader would be a young Martial Artist. I just didn’t expect you to be *this* young."

Xu Wuyi shook his hand. "I don’t have your experience. Please don’t hesitate to advise me on battlefield command."

His words seemed to put some of them at ease.

Zhao Tie introduced the other squad members: two middle-aged men in their forties were the Wu Brothers, both skilled in Saber Techniques; a short-haired woman named Lin Wei, who used a whip; and a tall, thin, silent man called Old Chen, who carried a bow and arrows.

The other three, who were younger, were Martial Artists on their first rift operation. They were called Xiao Li, Xiao Wang, and Xiao Zhang.

"The vehicle is ready. We’re in number three," Zhao Tie said, pointing to a dark green off-road vehicle.

Xu Wuyi nodded. "Let’s move out."

The nine of them boarded the vehicle.

Zhao Tie sat in the front passenger seat, while Xu Wuyi and the three rookies sat in the back.

The vehicle pulled out of the Martial Arts Hall’s backyard, joined the convoy, and sped toward the outskirts of the city.

The night was dark, the streets deserted.

The convoy switched on its warning lights, enjoying a clear path all the way.

Xu Wuyi watched the city lights recede rapidly outside the window. He suddenly recalled that just a year and a half ago, he had been a high school student cramming for his college entrance exams, with a Life Energy Level barely over 10.

Now, he was about to lead a squad to face a threat from the Otherworld.

’Time had changed so many things.’

"Captain Xu," Xiao Li, the young Martial Artist sitting next to him, asked in a low voice. "Um... are the creatures that come out of the rifts... really that terrifying?"

From the front seat, Zhao Tie glanced back but said nothing.

Xu Wuyi thought for a moment. "It depends on the species. Most are highly aggressive, but not very intelligent. As long as we coordinate well, we can handle them."

The three rookies nodded, but their faces were still a little pale.

Zhao Tie suddenly spoke up. "It’s always like this the first time. The first time I entered a combat zone, I threw up the whole way. Once the real fighting starts, you don’t have time to be scared."

At the Martial Artist stage, most don’t travel to the Alien Star Realm. Many have never even encountered a Star Beast, especially in a small place like Red River.

The convoy left the city and entered the suburban highways. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

The scenery on both sides gradually became desolate, with a continuous silhouette of black mountains in the distance.

Forty minutes later, the convoy left the main road and turned onto a bumpy mountain path.

After another twenty minutes of driving, a temporary checkpoint appeared ahead.

Several fully armed Martial Artists stopped the convoy, checked their identification, and then let them pass.

Continuing forward, Xu Wuyi got a full view of the combat zone.

It was a valley surrounded by mountains, currently illuminated as bright as day by dozens of powerful floodlights.

In the center of the valley, a dark red rift about ten meters long and two meters wide hung suspended in mid-air. Its edges constantly twisted and warped, emitting a low humming sound.

Three layers of alloy containment nets had been set up around the rift, with Martial Artists guarding each layer.

Farther away, signs of battle were visible.

Patches of ground were scorched, trees were broken, and there were dark bloodstains.

The convoy stopped in a designated area. Xu Wuyi pushed open the door, got out, and immediately felt the abnormal energy fluctuations permeating the air, making his skin tingle.

"Red River Third Squad, assemble over here!"

A booming voice called out.

Xu Wuyi led his squad over and saw a dozen or so people standing in front of a clearing, receiving their assignments.

One of them turned around, and Xu Wuyi recognized him.

It was Vice Minister Li from the Silver Harbor City Martial Arts Hall, a robust man of about fifty with a powerful aura.

Vice Minister Li’s gaze swept over Xu Wuyi’s squad, paused on Xu Wuyi’s face for a moment, and then turned to Zhao Tie. "Old Zhao, this is your team?"

"Yes, Minister Li. This is our leader, Martial Artist Xu Wuyi," Zhao Tie introduced.

Vice Minister Li raised an eyebrow and looked Xu Wuyi over again. "The top scorer from Star Martial?"

"That’s me," Xu Wuyi said calmly.

"Good." Vice Minister Li didn’t waste any more words, pointing to a map. "Your defensive area is Zone B3 on the northeast side—the entrance to that valley."

"The rift’s fluctuations are still intensifying. A small number of Blade-toothed Beasts have already broken through the first defensive line and are heading in that direction. Your mission is to hold the entrance. Don’t let a single one get through."

"If the pressure gets to be too much, signal immediately. We’ll send support."

"Understood." Xu Wuyi took the map.

"One more thing," Vice Minister Li said, lowering his voice. "If you see a Blade-toothed Beast over three meters tall with a dark-gold carapace, that’s a ’Blade-toothed Beast Guard.’ One or two occasionally appear in a Secondary Rift."

"Don’t fight it head-on. Just hold it off and fire a red signal flare. I’ll send Martial Artists to support you."

"Understood."

Near a Star Realm Rift, there is sometimes strong radiation interference that limits the range of communication devices, forcing reliance on primitive signal flares for messaging.

With assignments distributed, the squads quickly dispersed, moving toward their respective defensive zones.

Xu Wuyi led his squad along the ridgeline, heading northeast.

The mountain forest was quiet at night, with only the sound of the wind and the humming from the distant rift.

The path underfoot was rugged and uneven, but the squad members were clearly well-trained, and they moved quickly.

Fifteen minutes later, they reached Zone B3.

It was a valley entrance about thirty meters wide, flanked by steep cliffs.

Two simple roadblocks made of alloy posts and barbed wire had been set up at the entrance.

The ground was covered in messy footprints and drag marks, along with a few fresh bloodstains.

"Something’s been here," Zhao Tie said, crouching down to inspect the tracks. "These are claw prints from Blade-toothed Beasts. Number... around five of them."

Xu Wuyi surveyed the surrounding terrain. "Wu Brothers, take the left flank. Lin Wei and Old Chen, the right flank. Zhao Tie, you and the three rookies will hold the center. I’ll act as mobile support. Make sure to keep communications open."

"Yes, sir!"

Everyone quickly moved into position. Xu Wuyi leaped onto a protruding rock and gazed into the depths of the valley.

In the darkness, he could faintly make out several points of eerie green light swaying back and forth—the eyes of Blade-toothed Beasts.